Vicinal epoxide adducts of phenol-aromatic amine-formaldhyde condensation products



United States Patent 0 VHZINAL EREXEEDE ADDUCTS 0F PHENQL-ARG- MATEQ Mlm E-FGRMALDHYBE CNDENA- TlfiN PRGDUCTS Eugene F. Cox, @harieston, William H. Cook, South Eiharleston, and Fritz Hostettler, Charleston, W. Va, assignors to Union Carbide Qorporation, a corporation of New York No Drawing. Filed Oct. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 143,58ll

15 Claims. (Ql. Boil-51.5)

The invention relates to a new class of polyols which comprise the vicinal epoxide adducts of phenol-aromatic amine-aldehyde condensation products.

It is known to condense vicinal epoxides with various reactive hydrogen-containing compounds, which are called starters, to produce monohydric or polyhydric alcohols. In many applications, for example, in preparation of rigid polyurethane foams, it is desirable that such vicinal eporide adducts contain three or more hydroxyl groups per molecule. It has also been found that it is desirable to employ as starters compositions which contain aromatic ring structures, in order to utilize the greater rigidity and improved heat distortion characteristics that is inherent in aromatic compositions. Accordingly, novolac resins and aromatic diamines have been employed as starters for producing vicinal epoxide adducts. However, novolacs have several disadvantages, such as nonreproducibility and the fact that novolacs have a wide molecular weight distribution. As a result, if the content of bisphenols (which have only two hydroxyl groups) is kept to a minimum, the average molecular weight of the novolac will be so high that its viscosity interferes with further processing. The aromatic diamines are relatively expensive compositions, and are limited in their functionality to four, since they possess only four reactive hydrogen atoms.

The present invention is based upon the discovery that highly useful vicin'al epoxide adducts can be prepared from phenol-aromatic amine-aldehyde condensation products which are less expensive than aromatic diamines and which do not have the processing difiiculties exhibited by novolac resins. Accordingly, the invention provides a novel class of polyols which comprises the vicinal epoxide adducts of the uncatalyzed condensation product of one unsubstituted reactive position on the aromatic nucleus, and (0) An aldehyde.

The polyols of the invention are prepared by reacting one or more vicinal epoXides with a phenol-aromatic aminealdehyde condensation product, under conditions full 1 described hereinbelow at a more appropriate section of the specification, and recovering the polyol thereby produced.

The phenol-aromatic amine-aldehyde condensation products employed as starters in the production of the inventive polyols are prepared by the uncatalyzed reaction of a phenol, an aromatic amine, and an aldehyde. This condensation reaction can apparently proceed by several routes, one of which is the initial reaction of the aldehyde with the aromatic amine to produce an N-(l-hydroxyalkyl)aromatic amine, which in turn condenses with the phenol. This product then rearranges to form an aminoarylhydroxyarylalkane. The following sequence of reac- Bfldiifihd Fatented June 1, 1965 ice tions between formaldehyde, aniline, and phenol, is illustrative:

NH HO HO NHCH OH Phenol NHCH3 H20 0 The amino group is thus freed to react with additional formaldehyde, and the sequence of reactions is continued. By proper adjustment of the reaction conditions, the moecular structure of the condensation products can be controlled within readily reproducible limits, which permits a hiuh degree of batch-to-batch uniformity. The absence of any catalyst, such as the acid catalysts which are employed in making novolacs or the basic catalysts which are employed in making resoles, prevents any significant amount of side reactions from occurring, such as condensation between the aldehyde and the phenol.

The phenols which can be employed to produce the condensation products are the phenols which have at least one unsubstituted reactive position on the aromatic nucleus. It is normally the case that the reactive positions on the aromatic nucleus are those which are ortho and para to the hydroxyl group. Therefore, phenols which have at least one unsubstituted position ortho or para to the hydroxyl group are particularly useful. The phenols which can be employed include, among others, phenol, the alkylphenols, the halophenols, the alkoxyphenols, the dialkylaminophenols, the dihydroxybenzenes, and the like, which have at least one unsubstituted reactive position on the aromatic nucleus. Specific examples of phenols which can be employed include, among others, phenol, o-, m-, and p-cresol, 0-, 111-, and p-ethylphcnol, o-, In-, and p-propylphenol, para-t-butylphenol and other butyl phenols, the pentylphenols, the hexylphenols, the heptylphenols, the octylphenols, the nonylphenols, the decylphenols, the dodecylphenols, the pentadecylphenols, the octadecylphenols, the dimethylphenols, the diethylphenols, the dipropylphenols, the dibutylphenols, the didodecylphenols, cresylic acid and other mixtures of alkylphenols, chlorophenols, the dichlorophenols, bromophenols, the dibrornophenols, o-, m-, and p-methoxyphenol, o-, m-, and p-ethoxyphenol, o-, m, and pbutoxyphenol, o-, m-, and p-N,N-dimethylaminophenol, resorcinol, catechol, phloroglucinol and other trihydroxybenzenes, naphthols, dihydroxynaphthalenes, bisphenol A and other bisphenols, aminophenols, trihydroxybiphenyl and other hydroxybiphenyls, and the like. The preferred phenols are phenol, the chlorophenols, and the alkylphenols wherein the alkyl groups thereof have from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and most preferably, from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

The aromatic amines which can be employed are those which are represented by the formula ArNH, wherein Ar Rearrangement solvent such as methanol.

formaldehyde in aqueous solution (such as the 37 weight higher, to about 1:1, and lower. ratio of (phenol-karomatic amine):aldehyde is from is an aryl group which has atleast one unsubstituted reactive position on the aromatic nucleus. Ordinarily, the reactive positions are those which are ortho and para to the amino group. Accordingly, aromatic amines which have at least one unsubstituted position ortho or para to the amino group are highly desirable for use in preparing the condensation products employed in the invention. Among the aromatic amines which can be employed are aniline, benzenediamines, alkyl-substituted 'anilines, alkylsubstituted benzenediamines, N-alkylaminoanilines, and the like. Specific examples of aromatic amines which can be employed include, among others, aniline; m-, and. p-benzenediamine; m and p-toluidine; o-, m-, and p-ethylaniline; 0-, m-, and p-butylaniline; 2,3-xylidine and other xylidines; 2,4- and 2,6-diaminotoluene and other diaminotoluenes; 1-ethyl-2,4-diaminobenzene; l-propyl- 2,4-diaminobenzene; 1-butyl-2,4-diaminobenzene; 0-, and p-dimethylaminoaniline; oand p-diethyl-aminoaniline; alpha-naphthylamine and other monoand polyaminonaphthalenes; the aminophenols; the chloroanilines and bromoanilines; and the like. The preferred aromatic amines are aniline, the alkyl-substituted anilines wherein the alkyl groups thereof have from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and the alkyl-substituted diaminobenzenes wherein the alkyl'groups thereof have from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

The aldehydes which can be employed include, among others, the alkanals such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde,

'propionaldehyde and the like, and other aldehydes such as chloral. Formaldehyde is preferred. The formaldehyde can be employed in water solution or in an organic It is preferred to employ the percent aqueous solution known as formalin) and in solution in methanol.

The proportion of the reactants employed to prepare ucts is not necessarily a critical feature of the invention, and can be varied over a wide range. For example, for phenol and aniline themselves, the phenol-aromatic amine molar ratio can be varied from about 1, and higher, to about 1:15, and lower. A desirable molar ratio of phenol-aromatic amine is between about 9:1 and 1:9. The preferred molar ratio'of phenol-aromatic amine is in the nange'of from about 6:1 to about 1:6, and most preferably, from about 3:1 to about 1:3. When substituted and polyfunctional phenols and aromatic. amines are employed, the ratios may vary somewhat from those indicated above. The molar ratio of (phenol-l-aromatic amine):aldehyde can bevaried from about :1, and The preferred molar about 6:1 to about 1 .2: 1, and most preferably, from about 4:1 to about 1.4:1. Again, when substituted and polyfunctional phenols and aromatic amines are employed, the ratio may vary somewhat from those indicated.

* The preferred phenol-aromatic amine-aldehyde condensation products are those which are permanently .--fusible. The preparation'of the permanently fusible condensation products is dependent chiefly upon the amount of aldehyde employed. As a guide, it has been found that when the molar'ratio of (phenol-l-aromatic amine):

aldehyde issmaller than about 1.2: 1, it becomes increasingly difiicult to avoid residual reactivity which promotes crosslinking of the condensation products. Although the condensation products which are crosslinked, i .e., not permanently fusible, can be employed in the invention, the

7 processing advantages attendant with the use of a permanently fusible condensation product are apparent, and

about 100 C., during the addition. After the addition of aldehyde, which can take from about 30 minutes to about 20 hours or longer, the'condensation reaction is 'continued'for from about 15 minutes to about 2 hours at a reaction temperature of from about C. to about 130 C., and preferably, from about 70 C. to about 100 C. At the end'of the reaction period, the condensation product can then be recovered by stripping off water, un-

reacted reagents, and any solvents that may be present.

by heating to about 160 C.200 C. and thereafter reducing the pressure.

Conventional equipment can be employed for the condensation reaction. For example, a reaction kettle equipped with agitator, means for reflux and distillation, nitrogen inlet means, and conventional heat transfer means, is suitable. The material of construction can be steel, stainless steel, glass, copper,'Monel, and the like;

The condensationproducts described above are employed as starters to produce the polyols of the'invention, by reacting said condensation products with one or more vicinal epoxides. The vicinal epoxides which can be employed include, for example, the alkylene oxides, the aryl glycidyl others, the ary-l-substituted alkylene oxides, the cycloalkylene oxides, the halogen-substituted alkylene oxides, and the like, which preferably have from 2 to .10 carbon atoms. Specific examples of vicinal 'epoxides which can be employed include, among others,

ethylene ox de; 1,2-epoxypropane; 1,2-epoxybutane, 2,3- epoxybutane; Z-methyl-1,2-epoxypropane; the epoxypentanes; the epoxyhexanes; the epoxyheptanes; the epoxyoctanes; the epoxydecanes; phenyl glycidyl ether; tolyl glycidyl ether; ethylphenyl gylcidyl ether, propylphenyl glycidly ether; butylphenyl glycidyl ether; styrene oxide; 1,2-epoxycyclohexane; 1,2-epoxycyclopentane; 2,3-epoxybicyclo[2.2.1]heptane; 3-chloro-1,2-epoxypropane; and the like. The preferred vicinal epoxides are thealkylene oxides suchasethylene oxide, 1,2-epoxypropane, and the epoxybutanes.

The polyols of the invention are prepared by reacting a vicinalepoxide with a phenol-aromatic aminealdehyde condensation product. The epoxide reacts with the phenolic 'hydroxyl groups and with the primary or'secondary amino groups which are present in the condensation product, to form substituted or unsubstituted oxy- -alkylene chains of varying lengths, wherein each chain is connected to the condensation product through a phenolic oxygen atom or through an aromatic amino nitrogen atom at one end, and wherein each chain is terminated by ahydroxyl group at the other end. The addiamine-aldehyde condensation product.

tion reaction can be carried out in an inert organic vehicle, but is preferably carried out by slowly adding the epoxide to an agitated batch of fused phenol-aromatic temperature can vary over a wide range, for example, from about C. to about 220 C., and preferably from about C. to about C. The reaction time is dependent, in part, upon several factors, such as temperature, nature andproportion of'reagents, and thelike. 7 Therefore, the reaction time can vary over a wide range;

for example,'from about 30 minutes to about 20 hours, and longer, and preferably from about 1 hour to about 10 hours. A limited amount of vicinal epoxide will add to some of the phenolic hydroxyl' groups of the condensation products without employing a catalyst. Although it. varies with the nature of the particular reagents em- I alkaline earth metal hydroxides or alkoxides such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydrox ide, barium hydroxide; tertiary aliphatic amines such as trimethylaniine, triethylamine, N,N,N,N-tetramethyl-1,

3-butanediamine, triethylenediamine; quaternary ammoni- The reaction um or phosphonium hydroxides or alkoxides; and proton acids and Lewis acids. The catalyst is employed in an amount of from about 0.02 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent or more, and preferably from about 0.05 to about 0.2 weight percent, based on total weight of reactants.

The proportion of the vicinal epoxide and the phenolaromatic amine-aldehyde condensation product is not critical, and can vary widely. The amount of vicinal epoxide employed depends upon the length of the oxyalkylene chains that it is desired to build up. The chain length will be tailorrnade, depending upon the application intended for the polyol. Useful polyols can be prepared which have oxyalkylene chains which average from about 0.25, and lower, to about 30, and higher, oxyalkylene units per reactive hydrogen atoms contained in the phenolaromatic amine-aldehyde condensation product. (The reactive hydrogens are the phenolic hydroxyl hydrogens and the aromatic amino hydrogens.) The preferred polyols have oxyalkylene chains which average from about 0.5 to about oxyalkylene units, and more preferably from about 1 to about 2.5 oxyalltylene units per reactive hydrogen atoms contained in the phenol-aromatic aminealdehyde condensation products. Accordingly, the proportion of the reagents can vary from about 0.25 mole, and less, to about moles, and more, of vicinal epoxide per equivalent of reactive hydrogen atoms contained in the phenol-aromatic amine-aldehyde condensation product. The preferred proportion is from about 0.5 to about 10 moles of vicinal epoxide per equivalent of reactive hydrogen atoms contained in the condensation product. The most highly preferred proportion or" reagents is from about 1 to about 2.5 moles of vicinal epoxide per equivalent of reactive hydrogen atoms contained in the phenol aromatic amine-aldehyde condensation product.

After the reaction of vicinal cpoxide with phenol-aromatic amine-aldehyde condensation product, the polyol product can be recovered by conventional methods. For example, a suitable method of recovery is to dilute the polyol with an inert organic vehicle, for example methanol, and to pass the diluted polyol through an ion exchange resin to remove any catalyst that was employed for the epoxide addition reaction. The inert organic vehicle can then be stripped as, along with any unreacted epoxide that might be present, thereby recovering the polyol product.

Conventional reaction equipment can be employed for the epoxide addition reaction. If desired, the same equipment employed for the preparation of the phenol-aromatic amine-aldehyde condensation product can be utilized for the epoxide addition reaction. The pressure under which the reaction is conducted is not critical, and it can be atmospheric, subatmospheric, or superatmospheric.

The polyols of the invention are widely useful compositions. For example, they can be employed as coreactants with organic polyisocyanates in the preparation of polyurethane foamed reaction products and other urethane products such as adhesives and coatings. The polyols can be reacted with drying oil acids by known methods to prepare esters having utility as surface coatings. The long chain alkylene oxide adducts can be employed as surfactants. The polyols can further be employed as hardeners for polyepoxide resins in the preparation of molded articles, laminates, cast articles, and the like. Other uses include the preparation of association reaction products with polyethers such as polyoxyethylene, preparation of ion-exchange resins and chelating agents, and the like.

The examples which follow illustrate the practice of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of phenol-aromatic amine-formaldehyde condensation product A mixture of 1000 grams (19.62 moles) of phenol and 990 grams (16.62 moles) of aniline was heated to C. under a nitrogen atmosphere in a Stltlt) milliliter, 4-neck Pyrex reaction flask that was equipped with stirrer, thermometer, dropping funnel, and reflux condenser. Over a 45-minute period, 1105 grams (11.8 moles) of 37 weight percent aqueous formaldehyde solution was added to the reaction mixture While stirring vigorously. A mild exotherrn occurred during the addition of formaldehyde. The reaction mixture was refluxed for one hour at about 192 (3., and was then distilled to a pot temperature of 1-80 C. at atmospheric pressure. These conditions were maintained for 39 minutes, after which time the pressure was reduced to an absolute pressure of 3 millimeters of mercury. The distillation was continued for ten minutes at 3 millhneters of mercury pressure and 180 C. The resulting condensation product was a clear, brittle, glass like solid at room temperature. The distillate had two phases and contained only water, phenol, aniline, and a trace of formaldehyde.

The following analytical procedures and calculations were employed to characterize the condensation products and the vicinal epoxide adducts prepared therefrom:

Conversion of starting materials to condensation product, per batch:

Weight of condensation product Total weight of startin materials Amino-l-phenoxyl equivalent weightAnaiogous to hydroxyl number determination (acetic anhydride in pyridine, 39 minutes at room temperature) Average molecular Weigh Thermornetric method, in

acetone, ethanol, or chloroform.

Active hydrogen equivalent weight of condensation product:

(OH equivalent weight of epoxide adduct) (weight of condensation product) Weight of epoxide adduct Basic nitrogen analysis-Titration with perchloric acid in glacial acetic acid Ratio, aniline residues per phenol residues in condensation product:

(Percent N) (amino-l-phenoxyl equivalent weight) MOI-(percent N) (amino-l-phenoxyl equivalent weight) (This formula is employed only when monohydric phenols and monoamino aromatic amines are employed.)

Average active hydrogen functionality molecular weight+ 12 of condensation pro d u ct] [2 (ATNEZ/ATOH who) +1] (ATNH /ATOH ratio) (12+ molecular Weight ArNH (molecular Weight ArOH-l- 12) (This formula applicable only when condensation product is prepared from monohydric phenols and monoamino aromatic amines.)

Average polyether chain length:

(OH equivalent weight of epoxide adduct)-(active H equivalent Weight of condensation product) Molecular weight of epoxide EXAMPLES 2-1 1 TABLE I.-ANALYTICAL RESULTS: OONDENSATION PRODUCTS F PHENOL, ANILINE, FORMALDEHYDE Example 1 2 4 5' 6 7 8 9 10 11 Molar ratio of reactants phenol/aniline/iormr aldehyde 1/1/1. 28 1/1/1. 3 2/1/1. 8/8/1 8/1/2 8/1/3 1/8/2 3/3/1 2/2/1 1. 3/1. 3/1 1/3/2 Percent conversion of starting materials to condensation product, per batch 55 56 12.5 36 35 25 27 35 46 52 Active hydrogen, equivalent weight 67. 2 67. 8 71. 3 68. 2 81. 8 81.3 63. 5 63 6 67. 7 62. 6 '62. 0 Equivalent weight, amino plus phenoxyl groom 108. 8 117. 8 105. 8 99. 8 1 11. 4 114. 7 106. 9 99. 7 101. 8 101. 1 106. 0 Ratio, aniline residues per phenol residue 1. O. 994 0.899 1. 02 0. 433 0. 396 1. 80 1. 05 1. 15 1.28 2. 57 Basic nitrogen, weight percent 6. 68 5. 93 6.27 7. 07 3. 80 3. 8. 43 7. 19 7. 37 7. 79 9. 51 Total nitrogen, weight percent 6. 85 5. 75 r 6. 6. 7O 3. 98 3. 46 8. 01 7. O5 7. 39 7. 84 9. 56 Molecular weight of condensation product 491 474 335 200 361 450 496 255. 284 327 382 Average active hydrogen functionality 7. 2 6.9 4. 8 3 0 4. 6 5 6 7. 9 3. 8, 4. 3 5. 0 6. 4

EXAMPLES 12-20 In these experiments, various phenols and aromatic amines were employed to prepare condensation products by the same general procedure described in Example 1. Table II identifies the nature and proportion of the reagents employed in each example, and Table III details the analytical results obtained for each example.

ing the second addition of propylene oxide, which took about 8 hours, the reaction temperature was maintained at 130 C. to 180 C. After cooling, the polyolproduct was diluted with methanol to lower the viscosity, and was then passed through a column of strong acid ion-exchange resin to remove the potassium hydroxide catalyst. The pH of the eluate was 6.2 The product wasstrippcd to a final temperature and absolute pressureof 180 C. and

TABLE II.-IDENTIFICATION OF PHENOL-AROMATIO AMINE-FORMALDEHYDE CONDENSATION PRODUCTS Example 12 13 14 15 16 17, 1s a 19 20 .Molar ratio of phenol] 1/6/2 6/1/2 1/1/1.3 l/4.5/1.5 5/1/1 1/1/1 1/1/1 :r/3/l 1/1/1.

aromatic amine/formaldehydc. Identification of phenol. Koppers 1 Koppers 11 Koppers Para- Phenol Phenol Phenol Midland 3 tar Para-t- Type B C Type E C Type B O chlorocresylic butylcresylic crcsylic cresyhc phenol. acid. phenol. acid. acid. acid. Identification of aro- A niline Aniline Aniline Aniline 2,4-dio-Tolnip-Tolui Aniline p-Toluimatic amine. aminodine. dine. dine.

I toluene.

1 A mixture of (31-03 alkyl-substituted phenols having an average molecular weight of 112, and having the following analysis:

' Vapor phase analysis, weight percent Light Ends 0 Phenol 4, 3 O-cresol+2,6-xylenol m 9 m-,p-Oresol+o-ethylphenol 46, 9 2,4- and 2,5-xy 16. 0 3,5- and 2,3-xylenol-l-m,p-ethylphenol- 14. 6 3,4-xy1e110l+m-,p-isopropylphenol 4 7 2 3,5-trimethylphenol. 2, 0 2,4,6-trimethylphenol+o-isopropy p 0 x 2. B A mixture of 0 -04 alkyl-substituted phenols.

TABLE III.-ANALYTICAL RESULTS: PHENOL-ARgMTIC AMINE-FORMALDEHYDE CONDENSATION PRODU 'I Ex'amnle 12 13 14 15 16 V 17 18 19 20 Percent conversion of starting material to 'condcnsation product per batch 34 36 58 38 31 57 53 31 59 Active hydrogen, equivalent weight; 65. 2 91.1 75. 1 61. 3 45.7 70.0 33.0 90. 7 92. 3 Equivalent weight, ammo plus phenoxyl groups- 114. 7 130. 0 119.6 111. 9 84. 5 110. 3 115. 2 156. 0 140. 9

- Ratio, aromatic amine residues per phenol residue... 2. 49 0. 542 1. 14 3. 15 1. 1. 16 1. 09 0. 964

Basic nitrogen, we ght percent '8. 71 3. 79 6225 9. 50 6.83 6. 35 4. 29 4. 88 Total nitrogen, Weight percent 8.64 3. 6. 31 9. 79 12.09 6. 6. 37 3. 84 '4. 84 Molecular weight of condensation product 519 424 302 317 426 413 440 Average active hydrogen functionality 8. 2 5. 0 4 9 7. 3 6.0 5. 7 4. 8

' 1 About 0.91.

EXAMTLE 21 Preparation of vicinal epoxide udduct of phenol-aromatic amine-formaldehyde condensation product Propylene oxide (1103 grams, 19.5 moles) was added" to 165.2 grams of the condensation product of Example 1.

The addition was carried out by adding the propylene so 2.75 grams of potassium hydroxide was added to the reaction mixture, and 1833 more grams; (31.6 moles) of propyleneoxide was added to the reaction mixture. Dur- 1-3 millimeters of mercury. The polyol had a hydroxyl number of 306 which corresponds (according to the known active hydrogen equivalent weight of the original 9 condensation product) 'to an average polyoxyalkylene chain length of 1.98 oxypropylene units.

EXAMPLES 22-46 70 Propylene oxide adducts were prepared from each of the condensation products prepared in Examples 2-20. The method of preparation was the same general procedure described in Example 21. Table. IV tabulates the hydroxyl numbers and average length of oxyalkylc'ne chains for each polyol.

TABLE IV.DESCRIPTION OF PROPYLENE OXIDE AD- DUCTS OF PHENOL-AROMATIC AMINE-FORMALDE- HYDE CONDENSATION PRODUCTS Example No. of Average length of Example condensation Hydroxyl Num- Oxyalkylene product ber chain 2 342 1. 60 3 232 3. 04 4 344 1. 63 5 290 1. 92 0 320 1. 62 7 333 1. 81 S 356 1. 62 0 357 1. 54 9 337 1. 71 9 319 1. S6 10 1 12 l. 11 10 352 1.67 11 325 1. 00 11 340 1. 78 12 314 1. 96 13 287 1. 80 14 326 1. 67 15 348 1. 73 10 377 1. 78 7 317 1. S4 18 307 1. 89 18 339 1. 60 19 330 1. 36 20 424 1 0. 69 20 236 2. 49

! This vicinal epoxide adduct was prepared without the use of a catalyst.

EXAMPLE 47 EXAMPLE 48 Preparation of polyurethane foamed reaction product from the polyols of the invention A foamed reaction product was prepared from the following formulation:

140 grams of the polyol prepared in Example 21 73 grams of an 80/20 mixture of 2,4- and 2,6-tolylenediisocyanate 37 grams fluorotrichloromethane 1.2 grams of silicone surfactant L-SZO 1 .0 gram of dibutyltin dilaurate catalyst The foam was prepared by first blending the polyol with the fiuorotrichloromethane by charging both materials to a polyethylene bottle, sealing the bottle, and immersing it in a 55 C. Water bath for 30 minutes. The bottle was then rolled on a mechanical roller overnight (about 16 hours). The desired amount of polyol fluorotrichloroethane blend was then weighed into a stainless-steel beaker. The catalyst and surfactant were added to the beaker, and the mixture was stirred with a mechanical mixer. The tolylenediisocyauate was then added, and the mixture was stirred vigorously until thoroughly mixed, after which it was immediately poured into an 8 X 8 X 5 inch waxed stainless steel mold which had been preheated to 70 C. After the foam had risen completely, it was cured for 10 minutes at 70 (3., removed from the mold,

A polysiloxane-oxyalkylene block copolymer prepared in accordance with the disclosure in U.S Patent No. 2,834,748.

10 and allowed to age for three days at room temperature before testing. The test results were as follows:

PROPERTIES OF FOAM SPECIMEN Property:

Cream time, sec. 20 Foam time, sec. 65 Tack time, sec 71 Density, pounds/ cubic foot 2.1 Percent closed cells 91 Compressive strenghts, p.s.i.:

23 C.parallel to direction of foam rise 48 C.parallel to direction of foam rise 35 C.parallel to direction of foam rise 33 C.-parallel to direction of foam rise v 12 23 C.perpendicular to direction of foam rise 19 85 C.-perpendicular to direction of foam rise 17 100 C.perpendicular to direction of foam rise 14 120 C.-perpendicular to direction of foam rise 6 Percent change in volume at 100% relative humity and 70 C. (humid aging):

1 Week 10 2 Weeks 10 4 Weeks 12 Percent change in volume at 70 C. and 5% relative humidity (dry aging): 2 weeks 3 Percent change in volume at -25 F. (cold aging) 2 weeks 0 Compressive strength, p.s.i. (parallel to direction of foam rise):

Humid aged 4 weeks M 41 Dry aged-2 week's 53 Cold aged 2 weeks 50 Percent weight increase:

Humid aged-1 week 2 2 weeks 0 4 weeks 1 Dry aged 2 weeks 0 Cold aged 2 weeks 0 Water vapor permeabilit parallel to foam rise Perm, inches 2.24-

k-Factor, parallel, (Btu) (inches thickness) (hours) (feet) (F.):

Initial 0.132

30-day 0.163

60-day 0.172.

k-Factor, perpendicular:

Initial 0.109

30-day 0.126

60-day 0.140

The preceding examples illustrate the practice of the invention. Variations can be made in accordance with the teachings of the instant specifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A polyol which comprises the vicinal epoxide adduct of the uncatalyzed, ternary, permanently fusible, condensation product of (a) a phenol which has at least one unsubstituted reactive position on the aromatic nucleus,

(b) an aromatic amine which has the formula ArNl-l wherein Ar represents an aryl radical which has at least one unsubstituted reactive position on the arcmatic nucleus, and

(c) formaldehyde, wherein said vicinal epoxide is selected from the group consisting of the alkylene 0X- ides, the aryl glycidyl ethers, the aryl-substituted 1 1 alkylene oxides, the cycloalkylene oxides, and th halogen-substituted alkylene oxides.

2. A polyol which comprises the vicinal epoxide adduct of the uncatalzed, ternary, permanently fusible, condensation product of i l (a) an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of phenol, the chlorophenols, and the alkylphenols, said aromatic compound having at least one unsubstituted reactive position on the aromatic nucleus, V

(b) an aromatic amine selected from the group cons'isting, t aniline, the alkyl-substituted anilines wherein the alkyl groups thereof have from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and the alkyl-substitut'ed benzenediamines wherein the alkyl groups thereof have from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, said aromatic amine having at least one unsubstituted reactive position on the aromatic nucleus, and V r (c) formaldehyde, wherein said vicinal epoxide is selected from the group consisting of the alkylene oxides, the aryl glycidyl others, the aryl-substituted ialkylene oxides, the cycloalkylene oxides, and the halogen-substituted alkylene oxides.

3. A'polyol which comprises the vicinal epoxide adduct of the uncatalyzed, ternary, permanently fusible, condensation product of phenol, aniline, and formaldehyde, wherein said vicinal epoxide is'selected from the group consisting of the alkylene oxides, the aryl'glycidyl others, the aryl-substituted alkylene oxides, the cycloalkylene oxides, and the halogen-substituted alkylene oxides.

4. A polyol which comprises the alkylene oxide adduct of the uncatalyzed, ternary, permanently fusible, condensation product of V r (a) a phenol which has at least one unsubstituted reactive position on the aromatic nucleus, j

(b) an aromatic amine which has the formula ArNI-i wherein Ar represents an aryl radical which has at least one unsubstituted reactive position on the aromatic nucleus, and

(c) formaldehyde.

5. A polyol which comprises the alkylene oxide adduct of the uncatalyzed, ternary, permanently fusible, condensation product of (a) an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of phenol, the chlorophenols, and the alkylphenols, said aromatic compound having at least one unsubstituted reactive position on the aromatic nucleons, V 7 r (b) an aromatic amine selected from the group consisting of aniline, the alkyl-s'ubstituted anilines wherein the alkyl groups thereof have from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and the alkyl-substituted benzenediamines 6. A polyol which comprises the alkylene oxide adduct of the uncatalyzed, ternary, permanently fusible, coride'nsation product of phenol, aniline, and formaldehyde.-

7. The polyol of claim 4, wherein said alkylene oxide is propylene oxide. e e a 8. The polyol of claim 5, wherein said alkylene oxide is propylene oxide.

9. The polyol of claim 6, is propylene oxide.

10. The polyol of claim 4, wherein said alkylene oxide is ethylene'oxide. V I i 11. The polyol of claim 5 wherein said alkylene oxide is ethylene oxide.

12. The polyol of claim 6 wherein said alkylene oxide is ethylene oxide. 7

13. The polyol of claim 4 wherein said alkylene oxide is a mixture of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.

14. The polyol of claim 5 wherein said alkylene oxide is a mixture of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.

15. The polyol of claim 6 wherein said alkylene oxide is a mixture of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.

wherein said alkylene oxide References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,897,179 7/59 Schechter et al.

WILLIAM H. SHORT, Primary Examiner. LOUISE P. QUAST, Examiner. 

1. A POLYOL WHICH COMPRISES THE VICINAL EPOXIDE ADDUCT OF THE UNCATALYZED, TERNARY, PERMANENTLY FUSIBLE, CONDENSATION PRODUCT OF (A) A PHENOL WHICH HAS AT LEAST ONE UNSUBSTITUTED REACTIVE POSITION ON THE AROMATIC NUCLEUS, (B) AN AROMATIC AMINE WHICH HAS THE FORMULA ARNH2 WHEREIN AR REPRESENTS AN ARYL RADICAL WHICH HAS AT LEAST ONE UNSUBSTITUTED REACTIVE POSITION ON THE AROMATIC NUCLEUS, AND (C) FORMALDEHYDE, WHEREIN SAID VICINAL EPOXIDE IS SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THE ALKYLENE OXIDES, THE ARYL GLYCIDLY ETHERS, THE ARYL-SUBSTITUTED ALKYLENE OXIDES, THE CYCLOALKYLENE OXIDES, AND THE HALOGEN-SUBSTITUTED ALKYLENE OXIDES. 